So there Paul was Sunday afternoon, at the New York State Fair's Chevy Court. Quite appropriately, the seven-piece band backing him up included three singers. And they were all siblings. Older brother Charlie Brown, older sister Theresa -- a music teacher right here in Syracuse's McKinley Brighton School -- and younger sister Laura took on the backup vocalists' role.

Paul acted right at home.

He split his 75-minute set between songs he's written himself and is recording for an album now, and three of the mega-hits that helped him win "The Voice."

"Go team Blake," Paul told the crowd, alluding to his vocal coach on the TV show, country star Blake Shelton.

Indeed, Paul's huge take on Journey's "Open Arms" and Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer" drew the baking-ing-the-afternoon-sun crowd of a couple thousand happily to its feet.

Paul's original songs were an eclectic mix.They let him stroll the stage and demonstrate plenty of "I'm-the-front-man" charisma.

"It's a privilege to come up here and sing songs that came from my heart to you guys," he said.

Several included the words "red, white and blue." A couple allowed him to quite ably play the acoustic guitar. One, "Radio (Artist)" carried a hip-hop beat and delivery.

"I call this song a tester," he said. "It's a song I would really like to put on the radio yesterday."

After the song earned applause -- passing his test -- Paul asked, "Is that worth 99 cents on iTunes? I'd like to think so."

Paul saved R. Kelly's anthem "I Believe I Can Fly" for last.

"This has been an amazing year. Life-changing," he said. "I promise I'll make the best out of it, all you guys who voted for me. Everybody who's trying to reach a dream or realize a goal, I'm here to tell you don't give up. Don't ever stop believing in that thing."